Gstaad has been re‑entered into the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after a supplementary payment of £30,000 was made to secure his participation. The colt, who previously captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for Aidan O'Brien, was originally removed from the Classic due to a clerical mistake, a fate that also befell Albert Einstein. While Albert Einstein will continue to miss the race, Gstaad now joins three other Ballydoyle runners who have survived the Monday confirmation stage. The other three are the dual Group One winner Puerto Rico, the proven performer Causeway, and the promising Flushing Meadows, all of whom remain among the twenty colts still under consideration.
Beyond the Irish contingent, there are several British‑trained horses that could make the crossing of the Irish Sea. Among them are Thesecretadversary, trained by Fozzy Stack, and Power Blue, handled by Robson De Aguiar.
The home‑trained field is anchored by Bow Echo, who will test his unbeaten record over the Rowley Mile. George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder has also earned a place after winning all three of his starts last season, capping his campaign with a victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes on the Guineas course and distance.
A second supplementary entry comes from Charlie Pike, who has entered Padraig Dawn. Padraig Dawn finished second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle in only his second career start, prompting his connections to seek a spot in the Classic.
Charlie Appleby may also be represented twice, with third‑place Dewhurst winner Distant Storm and the unbeaten King’s Trail both slated to travel to Newmarket. Roger Varian’s Avicenna is another possible Godolphin runner, while John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who beat Avicenna into second place in the Craven Stakes, also remains in the mix.
Karl Burke could field a trio of entries: Greenham winner Alparslan, the Billecart‑trained Billecart, and Hankelow. From the continent, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan stands as the sole international challenger.
Representing Jim Boyle, Into The Sky – a length second in the Mill Reef Stakes at the close of last season – will attempt to improve on his form, while Needle Match, fourth behind Alparslan in the Greenham, will try to reverse that result for trainer William Haggas. The remaining slots are filled by Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain, rounding out a diverse field of twenty‑two colts and fillies. Turning to the Betfred 1000 Guineas, the ante‑post favourite is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still slated to contest the race on Sunday.
Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner, boasts four wins from five starts as a juvenile, including Group One triumphs in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Fillies’ Mile on the Rowley Mile. A spring‑time setback threatened to derail her campaign, but Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic after a press conference last week, confirming that Precise will take her place in the first fillies’ Classic of the year at Monday’s confirmation stage.
O'Brien’s stable also retains the unbeaten Diamond Necklace, who may be aimed at the French Guineas provided Precise wins her race and remains fit for Newmarket. Other Ballydoyle fillies in the mix include True Love and Venosa. The home‑trained contingent is led by Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun, who impressed by winning her first four starts at two before finishing a respectable third behind Precise in her final Irish start. Burke also has a second string in the Prix de la Grotte winner Evolutionist.
Charlie Appleby hopes to repeat his 1000 Guineas success with Kempton winner Abashiri, the only horse in his yard capable of achieving back‑to‑back victories after Desert Flower’s triumph a year earlier. Godolphin may be represented by Andre Fabre’s potential French challenger My Highness. Additional contenders include Owen Burrows’ Fred Darling runner‑up Touleen, Ed Walker’s lightly‑raced filly The Prettiest Star, Stuart Williams’ shock Nell Gwyn winner Azleet, and the unbeaten Darn Hot Gallop from James Tate’s stable. Each of these horses brings a unique set of achievements and form lines that could influence the outcome of the Classic.
In summary, the 2000 Guineas field has been reshaped by the reinstatement of Gstaad and the inclusion of several supplementary entries, creating a competitive blend of proven Group winners, emerging talents, and seasoned campaigners. Meanwhile, the 1000 Guineas sees Precise firmly established as the market favourite, with a strong supporting cast of both home‑trained and international fillies ready to challenge for the title. The upcoming confirmation stages will finalize the line‑ups, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting weekend of top‑level flat racing at Newmarket.